-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, PzRtAIRMLkXmIEhUOhTpCUFUdb0/hJzd7jwzYKZsDNqAF12VaA3wHAXGDETAp/Yt PTd2A47vIM92NDdbD5Vozg== 0001144204-08-063323.txt : 20081113 0001144204-08-063323.hdr.sgml : 20081113 20081113150405 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001144204-08-063323 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20080930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20081113 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20081113 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ATLANTIC EXPRESS TRANSPORTATION CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001035423 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: LOCAL & SUBURBAN TRANSIT & INTERURBAN HWY PASSENGER TRAINS [4100] IRS NUMBER: 133924567 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY FISCAL YEAR END: 0630 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-24247 FILM NUMBER: 081184654 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 7 NORTH STREET STREET 2: STATEN ISLAND CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10302-1205 BUSINESS PHONE: 7184427000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 7 NORTH STREET STREET 2: STATEN ISLAND CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10302-1205 10-Q 1 v131740_10q.htm
 


UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



Form 10-Q

R
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008
   
OR
   
£
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
 
For the transition period from                to

Commission File Number: 0-24247

Atlantic Express Transportation Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York
 
13-392-4567
     
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

7 North Street Staten Island, New York 10302-1205
(Address of principal executive offices)

(718) 442-7000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes R  No £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Large accelerated filer £   Accelerated filer £   Non-accelerated filer R Smaller reporting company £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes £ No R

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes R No £

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, as of November 13, 2008 was 1,052,665
 

 
INDEX

 
 
 
Page
No.
PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   
Item 1.
Financial Statements
 
3
       
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets— September 30, 2008 (unaudited) and June 30, 2008
 
3
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) — Three Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
 
4
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) — Three Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
 
5
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
 
7
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
11
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
17
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
 
17
Item 4T.
Controls and Procedures
 
17
     
PART II: OTHER INFORMATION
   
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
 
19
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
 
19
       
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
19
       
Item 3.
Defaults upon Senior Securities
 
19
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
19
Item 5.
Other Information
 
19
Item 6.
Exhibits
 
20
 
2

 
PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item I. Financial Statements
 
Atlantic Express Transportation Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets

     
September 30,
 
June 30,
 
   
2008
 
2008
 
Assets 
 
(unaudited)
     
Current assets:
         
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
5,721,021
 
$
2,682,752
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,439,877 and $1,409,877, respectively
   
48,581,395
   
48,422,466
 
Inventories
   
3,176,820
   
3,508,576
 
Prepaid insurance
   
21,318,869
   
23,716,875
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
6,971,403
   
4,286,973
 
Total current assets
   
85,769,508
   
82,617,642
 
Property, plant and equipment, at cost, less accumulated depreciation
   
81,093,169
   
83,042,309
 
Other assets:
             
Transportation contract rights, net
   
1,786,129
   
1,866,496
 
Deferred financing costs, net
   
5,542,386
   
5,936,307
 
Deposits and other non-current assets
   
7,170,396
   
6,590,993
 
               
Total other assets
   
14,498,911
   
14,393,796
 
   
$
181,361,588
 
$
180,053,747
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Deficit
             
Current:
             
Current portion of long-term debt
 
$
1,092,428
 
$
766,232
 
Current portion of capital lease obligations
   
1,514,983
   
1,463,690
 
Insurance financing payable
   
1,417,062
   
3,247,089
 
Controlled disbursements account—checks issued not funded
   
1,733,182
   
3,303,864
 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities
   
14,551,320
   
11,953,216
 
Accrued compensation
   
6,955,161
   
4,553,718
 
Current portion of insurance reserves
   
410,000
   
314,000
 
Accrued interest
   
10,610,821
   
5,123,377
 
Payable to creditors under the plan of reorganization
   
115,993
   
137,389
 
Total current liabilities
   
38,400,950
   
30,862,575
 
Long-term debt, net of current portion
   
201,915,081
   
190,465,857
 
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion
   
258,883
   
261,846
 
Insurance reserves, net of current portion
   
252,559
   
486,394
 
Interest rate swap
   
4,715,794
   
5,786,069
 
Deferred income, net of current portion and other long-term liabilities
   
3,582,121
   
3,566,722
 
Deferred state and local income taxes
   
   
220,000
 
Total liabilities
   
249,125,388
   
231,649,463
 
Commitments and contingencies
             
Shareholders’ deficit:
             
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized shares 1,303,200; issued and outstanding 1,052,665 and 1,032,293, respectively
   
10,527
   
10,323
 
               
Additional paid-in capital
   
114,939,064
   
114,939,064
 
               
Accumulated deficit
   
(182,713,391
)
 
(166,545,103
)
               
Total shareholders’ deficit
   
(67,763,800
)
 
(51,595,716
)
   
$
181,361,588
 
$
180,053,747
 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
3

 
Atlantic Express Transportation Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

 
  
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
2008
 
2007
 
Revenues:
         
School bus operations
 
$
59,481,129
 
$
54,870,933
 
Paratransit and transit operations
   
12,779,163
   
12,127,469
 
               
Total revenues
   
72,260,292
   
66,998,402
 
               
Costs and expenses:
             
Cost of operations—School bus operations
   
62,921,039
   
58,873,716
 
Cost of operations—Paratransit and transit operations
   
11,982,549
   
10,601,210
 
General and administrative
   
4,138,274
   
4,028,985
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
4,357,752
   
4,657,671
 
               
Total operating costs and expenses
   
83,399,614
   
78,161,582
 
               
Loss from operations
   
(11,139,322
)
 
(11,163,180
)
Other income (expense):
             
Interest expense:
             
Interest
   
(5,961,877
)
 
(6,313,347
)
Deferred financing costs
   
(393,920
)
 
(389,414
)
Change in fair market value of interest rate swap
   
1,070,274
   
(3,148,998
)
Reorganization costs
   
(12,505
)
 
(45,891
)
Other income
   
49,062
   
93,992
 
Loss before benefit from income taxes
   
(16,388,288
)
 
(20,966,838
)
Benefit from income taxes
   
220,000
   
75,000
 
Net loss
 
$
(16,168,288
)
$
(20,891,838
)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
4

 
Atlantic Express Transportation Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

 
  
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
2008
 
2007
 
           
Cash flows from operating activities:
         
Net loss
 
$
(16,168,288
)
$
(20,891,838
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
             
               
Depreciation
   
4,277,385
   
4,529,211
 
Amortization
   
474,287
   
517,874
 
Original issue discount interest
   
141,102
   
141,102
 
Change in fair market value of interest rate swap
   
(1,070,274
)
 
3,148,998
 
Reserve for doubtful accounts receivable
   
30,000
   
30,000
 
Deferred state and local income taxes
   
(220,000
)
 
(102,000
)
Loss (gain) on sales of fixed assets, net
   
92,199
   
(39,886
)
Decrease (increase) in:
             
Accounts receivable
   
(188,929
)
 
1,643,284
 
Inventories
   
331,756
   
(77,090
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
(286,423
)
 
(2,777,322
)
Deposits and other non-current assets
   
(579,403
)
 
1,643,172
 
Increase (decrease) in:
             
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, accrued compensation and other current liabilities
   
4,999,548
   
2,616,610
 
Controlled disbursement account
   
(1,570,682
)
 
293,548
 
Accrued interest
   
5,487,444
   
5,765,711
 
Insurance financing payable
   
(1,830,027
)
 
(2,086,023
)
Payable to creditors under plan of reorganization
   
(21,396
)
 
 
Insurance reserves and other long-term liabilities
   
(122,437
)
 
(115,440
)
               
Net cash used in operating activities
   
(6,224,138
)
 
(5,760,089
)
               
Cash flows from investing activities:
             
Additions to property, plant and equipment
   
(1,401,966
)
 
(5,957,934
)
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets
   
19,800
   
59,450
 
Decrease in restricted cash and cash equivalents
   
   
(7,898
)
               
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(1,382,166
)
 
(5,906,382
)
 
Continued
 
5

 
Atlantic Express Transportation Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2008
 
2007
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
         
Proceeds from senior credit facility, net
 
$
10,700,494
 
$
9,084,395
 
Principal payments on borrowings and capital lease obligations
   
(56,125
)
 
(23,871
)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
   
204
   
 
Deferred financing costs
   
   
(71,573
)
               
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
10,644,573
   
8,988,951
 
               
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
3,038,269
   
(2,677,520
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
   
2,682,752
   
6,881,838
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
5,721,021
 
$
4,204,318
 
               
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
             
Cash paid during the period for:
             
Interest
 
$
285,001
 
$
383,338
 
Income taxes
 
$
 
$
50,608
 
               
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activity:
             
Trade-in value of vehicles exchanged
 
$
980,000
 
$
 
Acquisition cost of vehicles exchanged
 
$
609,073
 
$
 
Loans incurred for purchases of property, plant and equipment
 
$
1,038,279
 
$
206,623
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
6

 
Atlantic Express Transportation Corp. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1.
Basis of Accounting

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in Atlantic Express Transportation Corp.’s (the “Company’s”) financial statements as of and for the year ended June 30, 2008 as filed on the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of management, all adjustments and accruals, (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which are necessary for a fair presentation of operating results are reflected in the accompanying financial statements. Operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full fiscal year.
 
2.
Interest Rate Swap

Effective as of May 15, 2007, we entered into an interest swap agreement (the “Swap”) to reduce our exposure to interest rate fluctuations on our Senior Secured Notes due 2012 (the “Notes”), which bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 7.25%. The Swap has a notional amount of $185 million with a fixed rate of 5.21% instead of LIBOR thereby effectively converting the floating rate notes to a fixed rate obligation of 12.46%. The Swap will expire on April 15, 2010. On the interest payment dates of the notes, the difference between LIBOR and 5.21% will be settled in cash. In accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, the Swap does not qualify for "Cash Flow Hedge Accounting" treatment since the documentation of the accounting treatment was not done contemporaneously with entering into the agreement. The change in the fair market value of this interest swap agreement for the three months ended September 30, 2008 as valued by Wachovia Bank, National Association (“Wachovia”) of $1,070,274 is reflected as a reduction to interest expense for the three month period. Our obligation under the Swap is secured by the collateral securing our amended and restated credit facility.

3.
Debt

The following represents the debt outstanding at September 30, 2008 and June 30, 2008:

     
September 30,
 
June 30,
 
     
2008
 
2008
 
   
(unaudited)
     
Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 with cash interest payable October 15th and April 15th(a)
 
$
185,000,000
 
$
185,000,000
 
Less: original issue discount associated with the issuance of the Notes, net (a)
   
(1,998,939
)
 
(2,140,041
)
Amended and Restated Credit Facility (b)
   
16,652,768
   
5,952,274
 
Various notes payable, primarily secured by transportation equipment, with interest rates ranging from 8% - 10.3%
   
3,353,680
   
2,419,856
 
     
203,007,509
   
191,232,089
 
               
Less current portion
   
1,092,428
   
766,232
 
Long-term debt, net of current portion
 
$
201,915,081
 
$
190,465,857
 
 
7

 
 
(a)
 
On May 15, 2007 the Company issued the Notes with an original issue discount of $2,775,000, which is being amortized over the term of the Notes. The net proceeds of the Notes were used to repay existing indebtedness and for certain other corporate purposes.

Annual interest on the Notes is equal to the applicable LIBOR rate plus a margin of 7.25%. The applicable LIBOR rate is determined by using the second London banking day prior to the first day of such interest accrual period. The applicable LIBOR rates for the October 15, 2008 and the April 15, 2009 payments were 2.71% and 4.38%, respectively. Interest payments are required semiannually through their maturity date on April 15, 2012 and commenced on October 15, 2007. Effective as of May 15, 2007, we entered into the Swap to reduce our exposure to interest rate fluctuations on the Notes (see Note 2).
 
In connection with the issuance of the Notes, the Company incurred $6.8 million of transaction costs that are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the financing.

The indenture governing the Notes provides for optional redemption and contains covenants typical of such arrangements including limitations on incurrence of additional indebtedness.
 
The Notes are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by each of the Company’s existing and future domestic subsidiaries that are not unrestricted domestic subsidiaries, other than certain immaterial subsidiaries. The Notes and the guarantees rank senior in right of payment to all of the Company’s subordinated indebtedness and equal in right of payment with all of the Company’s other senior indebtedness.
 
The Notes and the guarantees are secured by a first priority lien on all but one of the Company’s and the Company’s guarantor subsidiaries’ owned real properties and hereafter acquired real properties and on substantially all of the Company’s and the Company’s guarantor subsidiaries’ owned motor vehicles, other than those constituting excluded assets, and by a second priority lien on those of the Company’s assets and the assets of the Company’s guarantor subsidiaries which secure the Company’s and their obligations under the Company’s amended revolving credit facility (the “Amended and Restated Credit Facility”) on a first priority basis.
 
On July 13, 2007 an SEC registered exchange offer was completed with respect to the Notes.
 
 
(b)
Concurrently with the issuance of the Notes, the Company and substantially all of its subsidiaries also amended and restated its existing senior credit facility with Wachovia to provide up to $35.0 million of borrowing availability under a revolving credit facility, subject to customary borrowing conditions, plus a $10.0 million letter of credit facility. The Amended and Restated Credit Facility is secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ assets, other than collateral securing the Notes on a first priority basis, and by a second priority lien on the real property securing the Notes on a first priority basis. In addition, the term of the credit facility was extended to December 31, 2011. The Amended and Restated Credit Facility contains certain financial covenants, including a minimum last 12 month (“LTM”) EBITDA covenant of $26.0 million, which will only be tested if excess availability falls below certain levels. The Company’s LTM EBITDA was $18.0 million as of September 30, 2008, however the Company has maintained an availability over the required threshold and therefore was not subject to the test for any periods through November 13, 2008. The Amended and Restated Credit Facility also contains customary events of default.
 
8

 
The borrowing capacity under the Amended and Restated Credit Facility is based upon 85% of the net amount of eligible accounts receivable less reserves. Loans under the facility bear interest at the prime rate which was 5.0% at September 30, 2008. Letters of credit are subject to a fee of 1% per annum payable monthly in arrears and any amounts paid by lenders for letters of credit will bear the same rate as loans under our revolving facility. The Company paid a closing fee of $400,000 which is being amortized over the term of the financing and is required to pay a servicing fee of $10,000 per month, plus a monthly fee of 0.5% on any unused portion of its Amended and Restated Credit Facility.

At September 30, 2008, the Company’s debt under its $35.0 million Amended and Restated Credit Facility was approximately $16.7 million, and it had $3.1 million of borrowing availability after $7.8 million of reserves, based on the Company’s borrowing base calculations.

The Company’s obligation under the Swap is secured by the collateral securing our Amended and Restated Credit Facility and in connection therewith total reserves of approximately $4.5 million and $5.3 million for October and November 2008, respectively, were established against the Company’s borrowing base. In February 2008, the Company’s senior credit facility was amended to change the calculation of the borrowing base for the purpose of the calculation of excess availability, solely in relation to testing the EBITDA covenant, to exclude the first $5.0 million of reserves established in connection with our Swap. This change is effective until February 15, 2009. Until August 28, 2008, excess availability was required to be at least $5.0 million at all times during the period from July 1 to August 31 of any year, and $8.0 million for the balance of the fiscal year. As of August 28, 2008 the senior credit facility was amended to extend the period where excess availability required is $5.0 million from August 31 of any year to September 15 of any year. As of September 25, 2008, the senior credit facility was further amended such that the excess availability requirement is as follows: (i) $5,000,000 at all times during the period from July 1, 2008 to September 15, 2008, (ii) $8,000,000 at all times during the period from September 16, 2008 to September 30, 2008, (iii) $4,500,000 at all times during the period from October 1, 2008 to July 31, 2009, (iv) $4,000,000 at all times during the period from August 1, 2009 to September 15, 2009, (v) $4,500,000 at all times during the period from September 16, 2009 to November 1, 2009, (vi) $8,000,000 at all times during the period from November 2, 2009 to June 30, 2010, (vii) $5,000,000 at all times during the period from July 1 to September 15 of any year (commencing in 2010), and (viii) $8,000,000 at all times during the period from September 16 of any year (commencing in 2010) through June 30 of the immediately following year. Based upon these amendments, the Company did not need to test the EBITDA covenant through November 13, 2008. If the reserve in connection with the Swap increases it may have an adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, whereby the Company might have to pursue additional funding alternatives including the sale of certain assets or operations to satisfy our liquidity requirements.
 
   
LTM EBITDA was $18.0 million as of September 30, 2008 and we expect LTM EBITDA to be below $26.0 million for the next twelve months. If our excess availability for the purpose of testing the EBITDA covenant falls below certain levels, this will generate a default under our Amended and Restated Credit Facility and under certain circumstances cause a cross default under the Notes. Although the Company believes that it would be able to receive a waiver of this default from Wachovia, there can be no assurance that this is the case or what the cost to the Company might be. If the Company would not be able to receive a waiver, then the amount of the Amended and Restated Credit Facility would be reclassified to a short-term liability.
 
4
Equity

In July 2008, we issued 20,362 common shares pursuant to the exercise of warrants which had been issued in connection with our previously outstanding third priority senior secured notes, and received aggregate proceeds of $204.
 
9

 
5
Environmental Issues
 
By letter dated August 31, 2007, Fiore Bus Service, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, was notified by the US Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, of a potential liability in connection with the remediation of the Sutton Brook Disposal Area Superfund site in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. EPA has estimated that the cost to remediate this site is approximately $30 million and is seeking an agreement from the identified potentially responsible parties, or PRPs, including Fiore, to undertake the remediation of the site and has also demanded reimbursement of EPA's expenses and oversight costs, which EPA has stated to be approximately $5.2 million for work performed to date. Under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, persons who are identified as PRPs such as Fiore may be subject to strict, joint and several liability for the entire cost of cleaning up environmental contamination at sites where hazardous substances have been released. The Company had acquired Fiore in 1998 and the allegations regarding Fiore relate to events which occurred during the 1980s. The Company has taken the position that any liability Fiore may have had regarding the remediation of the Sutton Brook site was discharged in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. While Fiore intends to pursue this defense vigorously and believes that its ultimate allocation of costs for this site, if any, should not be material, we can offer no assurance that the bankruptcy defense will be upheld in court or that Fiore's share of any liability will not be material.

6.
New Accounting Standards
 
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, but provides guidance on how to measure fair value by providing a fair value hierarchy used to classify the source of the information. This statement was effective for the Company for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008 and had no material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 157-2, “Partial Deferral of the Effective Date of Statement 157”. FSP 157-2 delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually) to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS 157 on non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, but does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
 
In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active.”  This FSP applies to financial assets within the scope of accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements in accordance with SFAS 157.  This FSP clarifies the application of SFAS 157 in determining the fair values of assets or liabilities in a market that is not active.  This FSP was effective upon issuance, including prior periods for which financial statements have not been issued.  The adoption of this FSP did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”. SFAS No. 159 gives the Company the irrevocable option to carry many financial assets and liabilities at fair values, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. This statement was effective for the Company for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008 and did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements as the Company did not elect this fair value option on any financial assets or liabilities.

Effective July 1, 2008, the Company adopted EITF Issue No. 07-1, “Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements” (“EITF 07-1”). EITF 07-1 defines collaborative arrangements and establishes reporting requirements for transactions between participants in a collaborative arrangement and between participants in the arrangement and third parties. EITF 07-1 also establishes the appropriate income statement presentation and classification for joint operating activities and payments between participants, as well as the sufficiency of the disclosures related to these arrangements. The adoption of EITF 07-1 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
 
10

 
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133”.  SFAS 161 requires entities that utilize derivative instruments to provide qualitative disclosures about their objectives and strategies for using such instruments, as well as any details of credit-risk-related contingent features contained within derivatives.  SFAS 161 also requires entities to disclose additional information about the amounts and location of derivatives located within the financial statements, how the provisions of SFAS 133 have been applied, and the impact that hedges have on an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.  SFAS 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early application encouraged.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS 161, but does not expect the adoption of SFAS 161 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2008, the FASB ratified the consensus reached on EITF Issue No. 07-05, “Determining Whether an Instrument (or Embedded Feature) Is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock”.  EITF Issue No. 07-05 clarifies the determination of whether an instrument (or an embedded feature) is indexed to an entity’s own stock, which would qualify as a scope exception under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”  EITF Issue No. 07-05 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008.  Early adoption for an existing instrument is not permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of EITF Issue No. 07-05, but does not expect the adoption of EITF Issue No. 07-05 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

General

Atlantic Express Transportation Corp. (“we” or the “Company”) is the third largest provider of school bus transportation in the United States and the leading provider in New York City, the largest market in which we operate. We have contracts with approximately 100 school districts in New York, Missouri, Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. For fiscal 2009, we have a contract to provide paratransit services in New York to physically and mentally challenged passengers who are unable to use standard public transportation. We also provide other transportation services, including fixed route transit, express commuter line and charter and tour buses through our coach services. As of September 30, 2008, we had a fleet of approximately 5,600 vehicles operating from approximately 50  facilities.

School bus transportation services accounted for 82.3% and 81.9% of our revenues from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Our school bus transportation contracts have provided a relatively predictable and stable stream of revenues over their terms, which generally initially range from one to five years. Since 1979, we have achieved substantial contract renewals, which we believe is due to (1) our reputation for passenger safety and providing efficient, on-time service, (2) our long-standing relationships with the school districts we service, (3) the preference of school districts to maintain continuity of service with their current proven contractor rather than risk the uncertainty associated with a replacement and (4) the disadvantage of prospective competitors, who generally would have to make substantially greater investments than we would in new equipment and who may experience difficulty obtaining suitable parking and maintenance facilities in our primary markets, especially in the New York City greater metropolitan area.
 
11

 
Paratransit and transit services accounted for 17.7% and 18.1% of our revenues from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The terms of our paratransit and transit contracts are initially for five years. These contracts are awarded by public transit systems through a public bidding or request for proposal ("RFP") process. We are generally entitled to a specified charge per hour of vehicle service together with other fixed charges. 
 
Results of Operations
 
     
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2008
 
2007
 
   
(unaudited)
 
   
(in millions, except percentages)
 
Revenues
 
$
72.3
   
100.0
%
$
67.0
   
100.0
%
Cost of operations
   
74.9
   
103.7
%
 
69.5
   
103.7
%
General and administrative
   
4.1
   
5.7
%
 
4.0
   
6.0
%
Depreciation and amortization
   
4.4
   
6.0
%
 
4.7
   
7.0
%
Loss from operations
   
(11.1
)
 
(15.4
)%
 
(11.2
)
 
(16.7
)%
Interest expense
   
5.3
   
7.3
%
 
9.9
   
14.7
%
Net loss
   
(16.2
)
 
(22.4
)%
 
(20.9
)
 
(31.2
)%

Results of Operations - Three Months Ended September 30, 2008 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2007

Revenues. Revenues from school bus operations were $59.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $54.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, an increase of $4.6 million, or 8.4%. This increase was primarily due to an increase in service requirements of $4.4 million, due primarily to approximately three more New York City Department of Education (“DOE”) revenue days in September ($2.7 million) and an increase of summer revenues ($0.7 million), $1.0 million of price increases and $0.3 million increase in DOE escort cost reimbursement revenue partially offset by $1.2 million in lost contracts.

Revenues from paratransit and transit operations were $12.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $12.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, an increase of $0.7 million or 5.4%. This increase was due to price increases and increases in service requirements from existing contracts.
 
Cost of Operations. Cost of operations of school bus operations was $62.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $58.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, an increase of $4.0 million or 6.9%. This increase was primarily due to an increases of $1.5 million in fuel expense, $1.3 million of salaries and wages, $0.8 million of employee fringe benefit costs and $0.6 million of vehicle lease expense. As a percentage of revenues, salaries and wages decreased to 52.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from 54.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2007. As a percentage of revenues, cost of operations decreased to 105.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from 107.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2007.

Cost of operations of paratransit and transit operations were $12.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $10.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, an increase of $1.4 million or 13.0%. This increase was primarily due to an increases of $0.4 million in fuel expense, $0.6 million of salaries and wages, $0.2 million of employee fringe benefit costs and $0.2 million of vehicle lease expense. As a percentage of revenues, salaries and wages increased to 51.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from 49.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2007. As a percentage of revenues, cost of operations increased to 93.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from 87.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2007.
 
12

 
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses from school bus operations were $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $3.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, an increase of $0.2 million or 6.6%. This increase was primarily due to an increases of $0.2 million in legal and professional fees. As a percentage of school bus operations revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased to 5.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from 6.0% for the three months ended and September 30, 2007.

General and administrative expenses from paratransit and transit operations were $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, a decrease of $0.1 million or 15.4%. As a percentage of paratransit and transit operations revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased to 4.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from 5.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2007.

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense from school bus operations was $4.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $4.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 5.3% as some of the assets are now fully depreciated.

Depreciation and amortization expense from paratransit and transit operations was $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Operating income (loss) from operations. Operating loss from school bus operations was $11.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $11.6 million loss for the three months ended September 30, 2007, a decrease in loss of $0.6 million, or 4.9%, due to the net effect of the items discussed above.

Operating loss from paratransit and transit operations was $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to income of $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, an increase in loss of $0.5 million, or 118.5%, due to the net effect of the items discussed above.

Interest expense. Interest expense was $5.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $9.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, a decrease of $4.6 million, or 46.3%. The decrease was primarily due to a $4.2 million non-cash change in fair market value of interest rate swap.

Loss before benefit from income taxes. Due to the net effect of the items discussed above we experienced a loss before a benefit from income taxes of $16.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to a loss of $21.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, a decrease in loss of $4.6 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The statements regarding the Company’s anticipated capital expenditures and service requirements are “forward looking” statements which involve unknown risks and uncertainties, such as the Company’s ability to meet or exceed its growth plans and/or available financing, which may cause actual capital expenditures to differ materially from currently anticipated amounts.

The Company operated a fleet of approximately 5,600 vehicles as of September 30, 2008 and consumes substantial quantities of fuel for its operations. Based on the Company’s current operations, an increase in fuel costs of 10 cents per gallon will increase its cost of fuel purchased by approximately $0.9 million on an annual basis.
 
13

 
The Company anticipates capital expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 of approximately $7.0 million (including approximately $5 million of non-vehicle capital expenditures), of which $2.4 million ($1.0 million were financed by purchase money mortgages and $1.4 million were financed from operating cash flows) were made during the three months ended September 30, 2008. The Company has met the majority of its vehicle requirements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 by the use of operating leases as it did for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008. Vehicle lease expense increased $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from the three months ended September 30, 2007. The Company anticipates its vehicle lease expense will increase by approximately $3.3 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.
 
On May 15, 2007 the Company issued $185.0 million aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (the “notes”). The notes were issued with an original issue discount of $2.8 million, which is being amortized over the term of the notes. The net proceeds of the notes were used to repay $116.3 million of our previously outstanding notes, $15.5 million of the third-priority senior secured notes, $4.9 million of the senior unsecured notes, repayment of a $3.5 million letter of credit advance, $1.6 million of PIK interest converted into debt, $12.1 million for the buyout of vehicle operating leases and $4.8 million for outstanding administrative priority claims. The balance was used for other corporate purposes.

Effective as of May 15, 2007, we entered into an interest swap agreement (the “Swap”) to reduce our exposure to interest rate fluctuations on the notes, which bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 7.25%. The Swap has a notional amount of $185 million with a fixed rate of 5.21% instead of LIBOR thereby effectively converting the floating rate notes to a fixed rate obligation of 12.46%. The Swap will expire in April 15, 2010. On the interest payment dates of the notes, the difference between LIBOR and 5.21% is required to be settled in cash. In accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, the Swap does not qualify for "Cash Flow Hedge Accounting" treatment since the documentation of the accounting treatment was not done contemporaneously with entering into the agreement. The change in the fair market value of this interest swap agreement for the three months ended September 30, 2008 as valued by Wachovia of $1,070,274 is reflected as a reduction to interest expense for the three month period. Our obligation under the Swap is secured by the collateral securing our amended and restated credit facility.

Our obligation under the Swap is secured by the collateral securing our Amended and Restated Credit Facility and in connection therewith total reserves of approximately $4.5 million and $5.3 million for October 2008 and November 2008, respectively, were established against our borrowing base. In February 2008, our senior credit facility was amended to change the calculation of the borrowing base for the purpose of the calculation of excess availability, solely in relation to testing the EBITDA covenant (see Note 3 (b) to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q) to exclude the first $5.0 million of reserves established in connection with our Swap. This change is effective from January 1, 2008 until February 15, 2009. Until August 28, 2008, excess availability was required to be at least $5.0 million at all times during the period from July 1 to August 31 of any year, and $8.0 million for the balance of the fiscal year. As of August 28, 2008, the senior credit facility was amended to extend the period where excess availability required is $5.0 million from August 31 of any year to September 15 of any year. As of September 25, 2008, the senior credit facility was further amended such that the excess availability requirement is as follows: (i) $5,000,000 at all times during the period from July 1, 2008 to September 15, 2008, (ii) $8,000,000 at all times during the period from September 16, 2008 to September 30, 2008, (iii) $4,500,000 at all times during the period from October 1, 2008 to July 31, 2009, (iv) $4,000,000 at all times during the period from August 1, 2009 to September 15, 2009, (v) $4,500,000 at all times during the period from September 16, 2009 to November 1, 2009, (vi) $8,000,000 at all times during the period from November 2, 2009 to June 30, 2010, (vii) $5,000,000 at all times during the period from July 1 to September 15 of any year (commencing in 2010), and (viii) $8,000,000 at all times during the period from September 16 of any year (commencing in 2010) through June 30 of the immediately following year. Based upon these amendments, the Company did not need to test the EBITDA covenant through November 13, 2008.

Concurrently with the issuance of the notes, the Company and substantially all of its subsidiaries also amended and restated its existing senior credit facility with Wachovia as agent, to provide up to $35.0 million of borrowing availability under a revolving credit facility, subject to customary borrowing conditions, plus a $10.0 million letters of credit facility. The Amended and Restated Credit Facility is secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ assets, other than collateral securing the Notes on a first priority basis. In addition, the term of the credit facility was extended from February 29, 2008 to December 31, 2011. The Amended and Restated Credit Facility contains customary events of default and contains a minimum last 12 month (“LTM”) EBITDA covenant of $26.0 million, which will only be tested if excess availability falls below certain levels. The LTM EBITDA was $18.0 million as of September 30, 2008, but was not tested because the Company met the availability requirements.
 
14

 
The borrowing capacity under the Amended and Restated Credit Facility is based upon 85% of the net amount of eligible accounts receivable less reserves. Our senior lender has established borrowing base reserves of approximately $4.5 million and $5.3 million for October 2008 and November 2008, respectively, in connection with our Swap (see Notes 2 and 3(b) to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q). Loans under the facility bear interest at the prime rate (the prime rate at September 30, 2008 was 5.0%). Letters of credit are subject to a fee of 1% per annum payable monthly in arrears and any amounts paid by lenders for letters of credit will bear the same rate as loans under our revolving facility. The Company paid a closing fee of $400,000 and is required to pay a servicing fee of $10,000 per month, plus pay a monthly fee of 0.5% on any unused portion of its Amended and Restated Credit Facility.

Under the terms of our contract with the DOE (our largest customer) the Company has received a CPI increase of 4% for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. However, because of a reduction in the number of routes and a change in the configuration of routes for the year the increase was effectively reduced to 3.7% at September 30, 2008.

The Company, in addition to normal working capital requirements, has significant interest obligations and capital expenditure requirements to finance its operations. Our senior lender has established borrowing base reserves of approximately $4.5 million and $5.3 million for October 2008 and November 2008, respectively, in connection with our Swap (see Notes 2 and 3(b) to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q). If these reserves increase they may have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity.
 
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 there will be two less DOE revenue days as well as one additional payroll day compared to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008. This will have a negative impact on the Company’s margins. The Company believes that borrowings under the Amended and Restated Credit Facility and anticipated retrospective insurance credits to be received from its insurance company together with its existing cash and cash flow from operations may not be sufficient to fund the Company’s anticipated liquidity requirements for the next year and the Company may need to pursue additional funding alternatives, including the sale of certain assets or operations, in order to improve its liquidity position.

LTM EBITDA was $18.0 million as of September 30, 2008 and we expect LTM EBITDA to be below $26.0 million for the next twelve months. If our excess availability for the purpose of testing the EBITDA covenant (see Note 3(b) to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q) falls below certain levels, this will generate a default under our Amended and Restated Credit Facility and under certain circumstances cause a cross default under the notes. Although the Company believes that it would be able to receive a waiver of this default from Wachovia, there can be no assurance that this is the case or what the cost to the Company might be. If the Company would not be able to receive a waiver, then the amount of the Amended and Restated Credit Facility would be reclassified to a current liability.

As of September 30, 2008, total current assets were $85.8 million and total current liabilities were $38.4 million. At September 30, 2008, the Company’s debt under its $35.0 million senior credit facility was $16.7 million, and it had $3.1 million of borrowing availability, based on the Company’s borrowing base calculations. Approximately $9.3 million of the Company’s $10.0 million letter of credit facility was used. On November 10, 2008, under our senior credit facility the Company had a loan balance of $6.7 million, and it had $7.4 million in borrowing availability, based upon the Company’s borrowing base calculations.
 
15

 
Net cash used in operating activities. Net cash used in operating activities was $6.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, resulting primarily from $16.8 million used in operating activities and a $1.1 million non-cash reduction of interest swap expense partially offset by cash provided by changes in the components of working capital of $6.9 million, and by non-cash items of $4.8 million of depreciation and amortization.
 
 Net cash used in operating activities was $5.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, resulting primarily from $19.5 million used in operating activities partially offset by cash provided by changes in the components of working capital of $5.4 million, and by non-cash items of $8.3 ($5.0 million of depreciation and amortization, $3.1 million of interest swap expense and $0.1 million of amortization of original issue discount).

Net cash used by investing activities. For the three months ended September 30, 2008, the net cash used by investing activities was $1.4 million resulting primarily from $2.4 million of capital expenditures of which $1.0 million were financed by purchase money mortgages and $1.4 million were financed from operating cash flows.

 For the three months ended September 30, 2007, the net cash used by investing activities was $5.9 million resulting primarily from $6.2 million of capital expenditures of which $0.2 million were financed by purchase money mortgages and $6.0 million were financed from operating cash flows.

Net cash provided by financing activities. Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $10.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 due primarily to $10.7 million of net borrowings under the senior credit facility.

Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $9.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007 due primarily to $9.1 million of net borrowings under the senior credit facility.
 
Commitments and Contingencies 
 
Reference is made to Note 12 “Commitments and Contingencies” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008 for a description of the Company’s material commitments.

Critical Accounting Policies
 
In presenting our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, we are required to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported therein. Some of the estimates and assumptions we are required to make relate to matters that are inherently uncertain as they pertain to future events. We base these estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable and appropriate. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates. A discussion of our critical accounting policies and the related judgments and estimates affecting the preparation of our consolidated financial statements is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies as of September 30 , 2008.
 
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially.
 
16

 
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this report and, except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we assume no obligation to update or revise them or to provide reasons why actual results may differ.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

In the normal course of operations, we are exposed to market risks arising from adverse changes in interest rates. Market risk is defined for these purposes as the potential change in the fair value of financial assets or liabilities resulting from an adverse movement in interest rates.

We operated a fleet of approximately 5,600 vehicles as of September 30, 2008 and consume substantial quantities of fuel for our operations. Based on our current operations, an increase in fuel costs of ten cents per gallon will increase our cost of fuel purchased by approximately $0.9 million on an annual basis. From time to time in the past, we have entered into hedging contracts to protect ourselves from fluctuations in the cost of fuel. We currently have hedged approximately 25% of our expected fuel requirements in New York City through June 30, 2009 and we continually evaluate entering into additional such agreements if we believe increases in fuel costs are likely. No assurance can be given that we will be able to adequately protect ourselves from fluctuating fuel costs even if we enter into hedging contracts.

As of September 30, 2008, our only variable rate borrowings are the notes (LIBOR plus 7.25% interest) and the Amended and Restated Credit Facility (prime rate). On May 15, 2007 we reduced our exposure to interest rate fluctuations on our notes by entering into the Swap. The Swap has a notional amount of $185 million with a fixed rate of 5.21% instead of LIBOR thereby effectively converting the floating rate notes to a fixed rate obligation of 12.46%. The Swap will expire on April 15, 2010. On the interest payment dates of the notes, the difference between LIBOR and 5.21% will be settled in cash. As of September 30, 2008 the fair market value of the Swap as valued by Wachovia was a $4.7 liability. Our obligation under the Swap is secured by the collateral securing our Amended and Restated Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2008, based upon our variable interest rate borrowings, a 100 basis point increase in interest rates, applied to our maximum variable rate borrowings, would have no material effect on interest expense or corresponding cash flows until periods commencing April 16, 2010.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Not applicable

Item 4T. Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
17

 
As of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e).  Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2008.

  There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting, identified in connection with the evaluation of such internal control that occurred during our last fiscal quarter, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
 
18

 
PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

By letter dated August 31, 2008, Fiore Bus Service, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, was notified by the US Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, of a potential liability in connection with the remediation of the Sutton Brook Disposal Area Superfund site in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. EPA has estimated that the cost to remediate this site is approximately $30 million and is seeking an agreement from the identified potentially responsible parties, or PRPs, including Fiore, to undertake the remediation of the site and has also demanded reimbursement of EPA's expenses and oversight costs, which EPA has stated to be approximately $5.2 million for work performed to date. Under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, persons who are identified as PRPs such as Fiore may be subject to strict, joint and several liability for the entire cost of cleaning up environmental contamination at sites where hazardous substances have been released. The Company had acquired Fiore in 1998 and the allegations regarding Fiore relate to events which occurred during the 1980s. The Company has taken the position that any liability Fiore may have had regarding the remediation of the Sutton Brook site was discharged in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. While Fiore intends to pursue this defense vigorously and believes that its ultimate allocation of costs for this site, if any, should not be material, we can offer no assurance that the bankruptcy defense will be upheld in court or that Fiore's share of any liability will not be material.

Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
Our operations and financial results are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and trading price of the Notes. Please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2008 for additional information concerning these risk factors and other uncertainties that could negatively impact the Company. There have been no material changes to those risk factors as previously disclosed.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

In July 2008, we issued 20,362 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, pursuant to the exercise of warrants which had been issued in connection with our previously outstanding third priority senior secured notes and received an aggregate proceeds of $204 as exercise price of warrants, which proceeds were used for general corporate purposes. The issuance of the shares upon exercise of the warrants was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities
 
None.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
None.

Item 5. Other Information
 
None.
 
19

 
Item 6. Exhibits
 
The following documents are filed as Exhibits to this report:

Exhibit
No.
 
Description
3.1
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer
3.2
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer
3.3
 
Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer
3.4
 
Section 1350 Certification of Principal Financial Officer
 
SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Atlantic Express Transportation Corp. has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
ATLANTIC EXPRESS TRANSPORTATION
CORP.
   
Date: November 13, 2008
By:
/s/ Domenic Gatto
 
Domenic Gatto
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
   
Date: November 13, 2008
By:
/s/ Nathan Schlenker
 
Nathan Schlenker
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Principal Accounting
Officer)
 
20

 
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
No.
 
Description
3.1
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer
3.2
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer
3.3
 
Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer
3.4
 
Section 1350 Certification of Principal Financial Officer
 
21

EX-31.1 2 v131740_ex31-1.htm
Exhibit 31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Domenic Gatto, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Atlantic Express Transportation Corp.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
 
 

 
 
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Domenic Gatto
            Domenic Gatto
            Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 13, 2008
 
 
 

 
EX-31.2 3 v131740_ex31-2.htm
 
Exhibit 31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Nathan Schlenker, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Atlantic Express Transportation Corp.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 

 
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
/s/ Nathan Schlenker
            Nathan Schlenker
            Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 13, 2008
 

EX-32.1 4 v131740_ex32-1.htm
 
Exhibit 32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

I, Domenic Gatto, Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Express Transportation Corp. (the “Company”), do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:

(i) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Domenic Gatto
              Domenic Gatto
              Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 13, 2008

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely to accompany the Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
 

EX-32.2 5 v131740_ex32-2.htm
 
Exhibit 32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

I, Nathan Schlenker, Chief Financial Officer of Atlantic Express Transportation Corp. (the “Company”), do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:

(i) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Nathan Schlenker
            Nathan Schlenker
            Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 13, 2008

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely to accompany the Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
 

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